Tristan Thompson wants to be dependable at the line when game is on the line for Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Plain Dealer | Apr 24

Cavaliers rookie Tristan Thompson wants to be on the court in the final minutes with games on the line. And right now that's not an issue in late April with the team eliminated from the playoff race.

The 21-year-old center had another good game Monday night in a 109-101 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Thompson contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks against a big, physical opponent.

But in the closing minutes he and fellow rookie Kyrie Irving combined to miss five of six free throws as part of an 11-3 Grizzlies' run to close the game. Irving is an 88 percent free throw shooter so his two misses with the Cavaliers trailing by two points were a rarity. Not so for Thompson, who's converting at a 54.7 percent clip. He had made five of his first six attempts before missing three of his last four.